Emory Peak Trail
in Texas
Roundtrip Distance: 10.5 miles (16.8 km) Elevation Change: 2,500 feet (762 m) Average Hiking Time: 6-8 hours Ascend the forested Pinnacles trail for 3.8 miles (6.1 km) to the Emory Peak trail junction. Then take the 1.4-mile (2.3 km) Emory Peak trail to the peak. The last 0.25 mile climbs steeply, and the final 25 feet require a scramble up an exposed rock face.
The 360 degree view from the top of Emory Peak, the highest point in the park, is superb. The antenna and equipment found on the top are part of Big Bend's two-way radio system. Accessibility The hike to the top of Emory Peak involves a strenuous climb of about 2,500 feet along a dirt and rock trail.
The last 25 feet requires a climb up solid rock without rope, rails, or other artificial handholds. You should not attempt the last mile of this hike when thunderstorms are threatening, especially during the monsoon months of July, August, and September. Hike Smart Bring plenty of water!
- States
- Texas
- Trail type
- National Park trail
- Centroid coords
- 29.2702°, -103.3011°
About Big Bend National Park
This trail is inside Big Bend National Park, a national park managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.
Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/emory-peak-trail.htm
Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm
Plan your hike
Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.
Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.
When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.
If you've hiked Emory Peak Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.
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Sources
Trail data on this page is compiled from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), the maintaining organisation's public-facing materials, and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA where excerpts are quoted). Distance, terminus, and descriptive text for nationally-designated trails are hand-curated from federal land-manager websites and trail-association sources. We do not modify the underlying data; this page presents what is already publicly recorded. To suggest corrections, see our methodology page.